Tapindo Restaurant

Javea, August 2010

A long-time takeaway favourite in our household, we were delighted to hear that Tapindo had opened a restaurant in Javea.

It's in a quiet, residential part of town behind the Port, in Avenida de Adsuias March - this is the road that Augusta turns into, after crossing the river, coming from the Arenal side.  Coming from the Pueblo, head towards the Port and turn right at the boat roundabout, you'll find them just down on the right next to a Chinese restaurant.

The food is everything you have come to expect from the Tapindo takeaway: fresh, well-seasoned and tasty.  The veggie range on the menu is not extensive, there is essentially one main course, but this contains a tempting selection including rice, vegetables, two kinds of tofu (one mild, one spicier) and their moreish fried tempeh. 

There are no veggie starter dishes listed on the menu, but they explained that it's early days yet and there will be - and in the meantime they prepared us a lovely crisp made of something beany.  The set meals aren't huge, and you do need a starter - it's all beautifully presented though.  The owner explained to us that he'd be delighted to make a full 'rice table' (tasting menu) for a larger group, showcasing the many different things they can do with tofu and other veggie ingredients. 

As everywhere in Javea, our children were welcomed and flexibly catered for, so they were able to try a range of new tastes in a safe and friendly way. 

One excellent thing about both the restaurant and the takeaway is that it's all dairy free.  The set menu is also vegan - though if you are not vegan they also do a lovely  boiled egg dish with spicy sauce.  This is a great advantage of cuisine from a part of the world that dairy is not traditionally part of the diet, and a refreshing change from the many adulterated 'curries' you find around the world, enriched with cream and ghee.  Indeed anyone who cares about what they're eating will find a chat with the guys at Tapindo encouraging, because they genuinely understand vegetarian concerns and principles, and I felt completely reassured about their food preparation and separation behind the scenes.

If you've not given Tapindo a whirl, I really recommend you try it - the takeaways are very good value and a good place to start if you're unfamiliar with Indonesian cuisine (they're on Avenida del Pla 121); and if you don't want anything too spicy just explain and you'll be well advised.  If you like Indian or Chinese food, Indonesian makes a delicious and refreshing change, and we hope to be planning a proper 'Veggie Night' at Tapindo in Javea soon.

Maya